112 ANSERES 



This species is distinguished from the former one by its 

 smaller size and by its upper mandible, which is sunk into and 

 included between the rami of the lower one. 



Distribution. The Lesser Flamingo is found in North-western 

 India, Madagascar and Eastern and Southern Africa from Abyssinia 

 and Shoa southwards to Cape Colony. It appears to be doubtful 

 whether it reaches Senegal. 



FIG. 31. Head of Phoenicopterus minor, x } 



In South Africa this Flamingo seems to be most common on the 

 East coast, while it is distinctly rarer on the West, but we have 

 very little information about this species, as it seems to have been 

 generally confused with the larger bird. The following are localities : 

 Cape Colony Saldanha Bay (S. A. Mus.) ; Vogel Vlei in Paarl 

 division and Cradock (Layard) ; Maf eking district (Holub) ; Natal 

 Lower Umkomas (Haynes), Durban harbour and Ngutu in Zulu- 

 land (Durban Mus.) ; Bechuanaland Lake Ngami, common 

 (Andersson), in August (Fleck) ; German South-west Africa 

 Walvisch Bay, very rare (Andersson) ; Zambesi Delta (Kirk). 



Habits. The Lesser Flamingo is often found associated with the 

 Common Flamingo, and appears to resemble it in its habits. Its 

 breeding places in Africa and India are unknown, but in the latter 

 country eggs irregularly laid without nests have been found in May 

 at the Sambhur Lake in Sind. 



Order IX. ANSERES. 



This Order includes the Ducks, Geese and Swans, and forms 

 a well marked and clearly circumscribed group of birds. Externally 

 they can be distinguished by their characteristically shaped bill, 

 which is somewhat flattened and depressed, and covered with a soft 



